Flood catastrophe awakens volunteerism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginald rides a motorized fishing boat to the suburbs of Colombo, in the hope of bringing food and water to those in need.

Some families have not received aid for days, says Mr Reginald, who has been left separated by the South Asian island nation’s worst weather disaster in recent years.

Cyclone Ditvah ravaged the country last week, causing devastating floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired volunteerism among its people, as they face what their president has described as “the most challenging natural disaster” in its history.

“The main reason why I wanted to do this is to at least help them have one meal,” Mr Reginald tells the BBC. “And I was so happy that I could do that.”

More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency.

The Sri Lankan military has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian assistance is coming from foreign governments and non-governmental organizations.

But it will be a long journey of recovery for Sri Lanka, which has seen much turmoil in recent years.

In Colombo’s Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that provides food aid.

The protests three years ago were sparked by a growing economic crisis, leading to shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger erupted and Rajapaksa was forced out of power. Now, that political activism is being directed toward cyclone relief.

“Some volunteers came after work, some on rotation and some even took leave to be there,” social media activist Sasindu Sahan Tharaka tells the BBC.

“As soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday, we reactivated the group,” he says.

Mr Sahan also considers the kitchen an “extension” of his volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rains and floods killed 250 people across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent it to authorities and organized food distribution to residents, says Mr Sahan.

“Whatever we asked for, we got more in response from the community,” he says.

A flurry of activity is also taking place online, where social media users have created a public database to direct donations and volunteers.

Another volunteer-supported website helps donors find relief camps and what is needed most in those areas.

Private companies have launched donation drives, while local television channels have launched efforts to provide food and basic necessities such as soap and toothbrushes.

President Dissanayake, who is facing criticism over preparations for Cyclone Ditvaha, has urged Sri Lankans to “put aside all political differences” and “come together to rebuild the nation”.

Opposition politicians have accused authorities of ignoring weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster.

On Monday, opposition MPs walked out of Parliament, claiming the ruling party was trying to limit debate on the disaster.

However, a sense of unity remains on the ground as Sri Lankans pick up the pieces after the floods.

“In the end, the joy of helping save someone else’s life outweighs the fatigue,” Mr Sahan wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, after working long hours in community kitchens at Wijerama and other relief sites.

“Disasters are not new to us. But, the empathy and capacity of our hearts far exceed the destruction that can occur during a disaster.”